Patents by Inventor Boris Allan Elfstrom

Boris Allan Elfstrom has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11844468
    Abstract: A dispenser is provided for dispensing a hygiene product. The dispenser includes, comprising a time-of-flight sensor for measuring a position of an object relative to the dispenser; and a controller configured to selectively operate at least one function of the dispenser based on the measured position of the object relative to the dispenser. A method of operating at least one function of a dispenser for dispensing a hygiene product is also provided. The method includes measuring with a time-of-flight sensor a position of an object relative to the dispenser; and using a controller to selectively operate the at least one function of the dispenser based on the measured position of the object relative to the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: ESSITY HYGIENE AND HEALTH AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventor: Boris Allan Elfstrom
  • Publication number: 20230233034
    Abstract: A dispenser is provided for dispensing a hygiene product. The dispenser includes, comprising a time-of-flight sensor for measuring a position of an object relative to the dispenser; and a controller configured to selectively operate at least one function of the dispenser based on the measured position of the object relative to the dispenser. A method of operating at least one function of a dispenser for dispensing a hygiene product is also provided. The method includes measuring with a time-of-flight sensor a position of an object relative to the dispenser; and using a controller to selectively operate the at least one function of the dispenser based on the measured position of the object relative to the dispenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventor: Boris Allan Elfstrom
  • Patent number: 11666184
    Abstract: A dispenser is provided for dispensing a hygiene product. The dispenser includes a time-of-flight sensor for measuring a position of an object relative to the dispenser; and a controller configured to selectively operate at least one function of the dispenser based on the measured position of the object relative to the dispenser. A method of operating at least one function of a dispenser for dispensing a hygiene product is also provided. The method includes measuring with a time-of-flight sensor a position of an object relative to the dispenser; and using a controller to selectively operate the at least one function of the dispenser based on the measured position of the object relative to the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: ESSITY HYGIENE AND HEALTH AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventor: Boris Allan Elfstrom
  • Patent number: 11363918
    Abstract: A dispenser for sheet products includes a housing having a space inside for accommodating a stack of sheet products, wherein the housing includes a dispensing opening for dispensing a sheet product from the front of the stack, and an electronic controller configured to receive a pull-out signal indicating the removal of a product from the front of the stack through the dispensing opening and, upon receiving said pull-out signal, to send out a drive signal to transfer a number of sheet products from the front of the stack into a presentation position. The controller is further configured to receive a low-level signal indicating that the amount of sheet products left within the housing has been reduced to below a predetermined level and, upon receiving said low-level signal, to enter into a low-level mode in which the sending of the drive signal in response to the pull-out signal is disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: ESSITY HYGIENE AND HEALTH AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventors: Boris Allan Elfstrom, Jason Zerweck, Kevin Murphy
  • Patent number: 11051664
    Abstract: A dispenser for sheet products includes a housing having a space inside for accommodating a stack of sheet products, wherein the housing includes a dispensing opening for dispensing a sheet product from the front of the stack, an electronic controller configured to receive a pull-out signal indicating the removal of a product from the front of the stack through the dispensing opening and, upon receiving said pull-out signal, to send out a drive signal to transfer a number of sheet products from the front of the stack into a presentation position, and a pull-out detector for detecting the removal of a product from the front of the stack through the dispensing opening and for providing the pull-out signal to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Essity Hygiene and Health Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Craig Billman, Boris Allan Elfstrom, Jason Zerweck, Rui Zhang, Kevin Murphy
  • Publication number: 20200229655
    Abstract: A dispenser is provided for dispensing a hygiene product. The dispenser includes; a time-of-flight sensor for measuring a position of an object relative to the dispenser; and a controller configured to selectively operate at least one function of the dispenser based on the measured position of the object relative to the dispenser. A method of operating at least one function of a dispenser for dispensing a hygiene product is also provided. The method includes measuring with a time-of-flight sensor a position of an object relative to the dispenser; and using a controller to selectively operate the at least one function of the dispenser based on the measured position of the object relative to the dispenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventor: Boris Allan Elfstrom
  • Publication number: 20190343344
    Abstract: A dispenser for sheet products includes a housing having a space inside for accommodating a stack of sheet products, wherein the housing includes a dispensing opening for dispensing a sheet product from the front of the stack, an electronic controller configured to receive a pull-out signal indicating the removal of a product from the front of the stack through the dispensing opening and, upon receiving said pull-out signal, to send out a drive signal to transfer a number of sheet products from the front of the stack into a presentation position, and a pull-out detector for detecting the removal of a product from the front of the stack through the dispensing opening and for providing the pull-out signal to the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Craig Billman, Boris Allan Elfstrom, Jason Zerweck, Rui Zhang, Kevin Murphy
  • Publication number: 20190335961
    Abstract: A dispenser for sheet products includes a housing having a space inside for accommodating a stack of sheet products, wherein the housing includes a dispensing opening for dispensing a sheet product from the front of the stack, and an electronic controller configured to receive a pull-out signal indicating the removal of a product from the front of the stack through the dispensing opening and, upon receiving said pull-out signal, to send out a drive signal to transfer a number of sheet products from the front of the stack into a presentation position. The controller is further configured to receive a low-level signal indicating that the amount of sheet products left within the housing has been reduced to below a predetermined level and, upon receiving said low-level signal, to enter into a low-level mode in which the sending of the drive signal in response to the pull-out signal is disabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Boris Allan Elfstrom, Jason Zerweck, Kevin Murphy
  • Publication number: 20190246848
    Abstract: A dispenser for hygiene products includes an electromechanical switch that is configured to operate when a hygiene product is dispensed. The action of dispensing the hygiene product causes the electromechanical switch to convert the mechanical energy associated with the dispensing action into electrical energy. The dispenser is configured to use the electrical energy to emit a signal such that the dispenser emits two signals each time a hygiene product is dispensed. A system for monitoring the consumption of hygiene products in a dispenser includes a dispenser as described above and a receiver for wirelessly receiving the emitted signal, the receiver being positioned remotely from the dispenser, and a central computer or server for receiving data from the receiver. A method of monitoring a dispenser for hygiene products is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventor: Boris Allan Elfstrom